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Joshua Tree National Park

Where the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts Meet.

Within the boundaries of eastern California's Joshua
Tree National Park, the Sonoran and Mojave deserts meet. In the higher Mojave
portion of the national park, a forest of the strange Joshua Trees and a number
of unique rock formations called Inselbergs are protected. In the lower Colorado
portion, the Pinto Basin exhibits the typical plants of this hotter Sonoran Desert.

For all its harshness, the desert is a land of surprising variety and complexity, a land of extreme fragility. Viewed from the roadside, Joshua Tree National Park only hints at its hidden vitality. To the close observer, however, a tiny flower bud or the lizard's frantic dash reveals this desert park as a place of beauty and life.

General Information

Rates & Fees

Entrance Fee: $15 per private vehicle and $5 for walk-ins and bicyclists. (7 day permit valid for day of purchase plus 6 days)Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass: $30, admits pass signee and accompanying passengers entering in a single, non-comercial vehicle. Valid for 12 months. Non transferable.Interagency Annual Pass: $80
Valid for one full year from the month of purchase, the this pass replaces the
National Park Pass and Golden Eagle Passport. It provides access to Federal recreation
sites, including National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land
Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service.Interagency Senior Pass: $10
The Interagency Senior Pass replaces the Golden Age Passport. This is a lifetime
pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over and must be obtained
in person. The pass is non-transferable and non-replaceable if lost or stolen.Backcountry use is available, contact the park for more information. Vehicles are restricted
Activity Fees
• Camping fees vary by campground.
• Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour fees The
tour costs $5.00 per person aged 12 and over and $2.50 for children 6 to 11.
Children under six are admitted free. Closed in the summer.

Golden Age and Golden Access passport holders
pay $2.50. These fees are in addition to the park entrance fee. There is also
a $15.00 per car entrance fee good for a seven-day visit to the park.

Seasons / Hours

Joshua Tree National Park is open every day, year round. Oasis and Joshua Tree Visitor Centers are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Cottonwood Visitor Center is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Black Rock Nature Center is open October through May, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM except on Fridays, when the hours are noon to 8:00 PM.

Rules, Regulations, Precautions

Natural Resources

Because the park resources belong to all, no one may collect or disturb any animal, plant, rock, artifact or fossil within park boundaries.

Joshua Tree National Park is a wildlife refuge. Do not feed or bother wild animals. They often carry diseases; some can also bite; others may be harmed by handling or moving. Do not reach into holes or burrows, and do not place hands or feet where you cannot see them.

Vehicles

All vehicles -- four-wheel-drive, motorcycles, off-road and bicycles -- must remain on designated roads or parking lots. All motorized vehicles and their drivers must be properly licensed. All vehicles must have a muffler.

Firearms and Weapons

Hunting is illegal. Use of weapons is prohibited within the park. Possession of a firearm or air-gun is prohibited unless it is unloaded and cased or otherwise packed to prevent use. Any implement designed to discharge missiles in the air (bow and arrow, crossbow, etc.) is also illegal.

Camping

Camp only in designated locations. Be sure to make your camping plans well before sunset, for roadside camping is not permitted.

Campfires are allowed only in fireplaces and portable stoves. Wood collecting -- dead or alive -- is prohibited throughout the park so bring or buy your own.

Trash and waste must be placed in proper containers. Place a container under camper or trailer drains. Dump liquid waste, including dishwater, only at stations or restroom camper sinks.

Pets

Pets must be leashed or confined at all times. Owners are responsible for picking up animal litter and depositing it in proper trash receptacles. Pets are not allowed in the backcountry, park trails, the Visitor Center or other public buildings.

Safety Precautions

Never travel alone. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.

Be alert for flash floods when it looks stormy. Do not ford low places when water is running. Flood waters can undercut pavement or sweep a car from the road.

Abandoned mines can be dangerous. Do not explore them without assurance they are safe. Forgotten caches of explosives are sometimes found; do not touch them, but report them to park rangers immediately. Vertical shafts are invisible from within dark tunnels, and wooden supports can give way at any time, both of which could be fatal.

Carry plenty of water -- one gallon per day per person -- and drink it!

Wear comfortable, sturdy footwear and a hat; use sunscreen.

If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it. It is much easier to find a vehicle than a wandering person.

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SEARCH THIS SITE

Joshua Tree National Park - Black Eagle Mine Road Video - Beginning 6.5 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center, this dead-end dirt road runs along the edge of Pinto Basin, crosses several dry washes, and then winds up through canyons in the Eagle Mountains. The first 9 + miles of the road are within the park boundary. Beyond that point is BLM land. Several old mines are located near this road.

Death Valley - Scotty's Castle Video
Find out how Scotty's Castle came to be, when Albert Johnson met Walter Scott, later known as Death Valley Scotty. Take a tour of the magnificent rooms and see the castle's fantastic furnishings. Hear the organ in the music room as you experience this place of legend first-hand.

Death Valley - Titus Canyon Video
As Titus Canyon Road in Death Valley reaches the foothills, it starts to climb and meander among the sagebrush and red rock outcroppings. The road becomes steeper and narrower as it approaches Red Pass, amply named for its red rocks and dirt. Enjoy the ride!

DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource about the North
American deserts and Southwest destinations. Learn about desert biomes
while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the
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Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert.